Draft rigging



Mayj, 1935. N. B. AKITT 2,000,682

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Dec. 51, 192s 2 snets-sheet 1 k f-d mw dnne-1,

`N. B. AKITT DRAFT RIGGING May 7, 1935.

Filed Dec. 3l, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7,v 1935 i UNITED STATES 2,000,682 'y DRAFT RIGGING Norman B. Akitt,1Rochester N.Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application December 31, 192.8,Serial No. 329,50

6 Claims.

This invention relates to draft Yrigging for railway rolling stock and more particularly to the connection between vthe coupler and associated yoke. Y

The principal object Vof my invention, generally considered, is the provision of a yoke, preferably of the vertical type, with a hooded front end and a coupler, preferablyof the swivel butt type, connected to the yoke by means of a horizontal key extending through registering .slots inthe butt of the coupler and the side walls of the yoke, the upper and lower arms of the yoke extending close tothe upper and lower ends of the pivotal means connecting the swivelblock oi the coupler to the shank thereof so that said pivotal means is normally maintained in position without additional connecting devices, the walls in the yoke around the -slots therein being strengthened by inwardly extending reinforcements and the side walls of the coupler stem being channeled to provide clearance for said reinforcements upon angling therebetween, the side walls of the yoke, if necessary, being channeled for receivingv the coupler shankloops. .l

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler connected to the 'hoodedv front end of an associatedyoke bya horizontal key, the side walls of said hooded end being strengthened by inwardly extending reinforcef ments around the key slots and the sides of the coupler shank being formedwith corresponding channels to clear said reinforcements Yupon angling .of the coupler. Y l

A further object of .my invention is to provide la swivel'butt coupler and yoke connection in which the arms `or top and bottom walls of the front end of vthe yoke snugly embrace the butt of the coupler 'to retain Ythe pivotal means in place withoutY the necessity of auxiliary devices.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler and yoke assembly in which the coupler shank is formed with rearwardly extending loops intercalated with corre spending loops on a swivel block and pivotally.

connected thereto, said coupler loops being exe tended to a greater width than the normal distance between the side walls of the yoke forincreasing the strength thereof, said side walls being channeled to clear the side edges of said loops. f Other objects and advantagesjof `'the invention relating to the particular arrangement'and construction of the various parts willbecome ap parent as the -description proceeds. Y Referring to -the drawings illustrating myinvention, the scope whereof is defined by the appendedclaims. r

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of a hooded vertical yoke and associated swivel butt coupler connected thereto by a horizontal key, shown .partly in horizontal section and embodying my invention.' n i Figure 2 is a partial side elevation and partial central longitudinalsection of the coupler, yoke and associated partsillustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan and horizontal sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing amodiiication., 7 Y Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4--4 of VFigure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. Y m Y Figures 5` and 6 are views corresponding respectively to FiguresV 1 and 2 but other modification.

Figure 7is a transverse sectional view on the line --l of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. j

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and iirst considering the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,` there is shown'the stem or shank l of a swivel butt coupler pivotally connected to a'swivel block or articulated portion 2 thereof by means of a pivot pin 3 extending through the shank loops or rearwardly extending fianges lor webs 4 and 5 on the coupler and inter' calated flanges or webs 6, 'l and 8 on the'swivel block. As is usual inV swivel butt couplers of the type illustrated, the shank loops 4 and 5,*ha`ve their rear edges formed cylindrical and coaxial with the apertures 9 therein for receiving the associated pivot pin 3, which edges engagecorrespondingly curved pocketed `portionsflll and Il on the swivel block for transmitting .bufling forces thereto while' permittingY the desired angling curved edges4 of the shank loops and the curvedv walls of the vpockets receiving said loops.

showing antherebetween. The corresponding edges of Ythe u Associated with the coupler l is a yoke l5jthe Y iront end Yof which is hooded so that there are provided sidewalls I6 and l1, a'topwall I V8, and a bottom-'wall I8. In the present embodiment,

the walls I8 and I9 are merely extensions of the top and bottom arms of the yoke which is illustrated as of the vertical type. It will be understood, however, that I do not wishl to be limited to this showing, as if desired, a yoke of the horizontal type may be employed. The butt of the coupler I preferably ts snugly between the walls I8 and I9 of the yoke, so that when assembled therewith, said walls serve to retain the pivot pin 3 against withdrawal in either an upward or downward direction, even if it broke at the notched central portion thereof. Said pivot pin is desirably intersected or partially cut in half by the associated connecting key 2), the clearance provided in the notched portion of the-pin being such that said key does notnorma-llyengage the pin, thereby avoiding undesired wear. The key extends through registering slots 2I and 22in the side walls or loops I6 and I'I of the yoke and corresponding slots in the shank of the coupler and the associated swivel block for operatively connecting said coupler and yoke while Ypermitting rearward movement of the coupler with respect to the yoke upon the application of buiiing forces to transmit such :forces to compress associated cushioning mechanism indicated diagrammati.

cally at 23 by dot and dash lines. ,Y

The side loops or walls I and IIof the yoke I5 are Ydesirably strengthened around the slots 2| and `22 by inwardly extending reinforcements 24 and 25, tapering to a maximum adjacent the frontY ends of said slots, for increasing the strength of connection between said coupler and yoke. It will be clear that these reinforcements limit thev permissible angling of a coupler shank of normal construction with respect to said yoke and thereforezthe coupler'sha'nk illustrated is, in accorda-nce with my invention, formed with channels 2S and 2? of a size and shape corresponding with the reinforcements 24 and 25, a'nd with their midportions preferably forwardly offset with respect to the front edge of the couplerrslot a distance equivalent to a normal rearward movement of the coupler on buff, whereby they are disposed mainly in the widened portion of the stem, which,

' as shown most clearly in Fig. l, has side walls converging inwardly to the key slot therein, thereby permitting an equivalent extra amount of angling of the coupler stem, particularly when the cushioning mechanism 23 isunder compression and the stem of the coupleris moved further inward between the arms of the yoke than as illustrated in the drawings, as it will be understood Y that a greater amount of angling is apt to occur on buff than on draft, due to the tendency of the coupler-yoke connection to buckle on buff.

In the present embodiment, the shank loops 4 and 5 are flattened atftheir edges so as to fit between the walls I 6 and` IIof the yoke; 'Ihis of course slightly decreases the strength of said shank loops and in order to maintain the strength and avoid flattening the loops to any extent, I show in Figures 3 and 4, another embodiment of my invention in which the shank loops 4a and 5a have a. transverse diameter corresponding rwith the radius of the curved edges I Il and II, so that the width thereof is greater than the normal distance betweenthe s'ide walls I Ba and I 'Ia of the yoke I 5a. In order to permit insertion of the coupler stem Ia and swivel block 2e, the swivel block may be formed to correspond 4with' rthe swivel block 2 of the first embodiment, and the sidewalls IGP and IIa of the yoke I5a are preferably channeled or grooved as indicated at 28 and 29 i9, Previa@ .clearance fossati mattered Side loops, thereby maintaining the strength thereof. Inasmuch as the side walls of the yoke I5a are considerably stronger than the coupler shank loops, the slight channeling therein does not affect the strength of the combination. The channels or grooves 28 and 29 above and below the key slots 2Ia and 22a are extended rearwardly or inwardly a sufficient distance to permit the normal rearward or inward movement of the coupler I a upon the application of buiiing forces. Except as specifically described and illustrated, the construction of the present embodiment may correspond with that of the rst embodiment.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7, a coupler v yoke connection is shown involving a coupler stem or shank Ib and pivotally connected swivel block 2biassociatedy with a vertical yoke I5b as in the previous embodiment. The construction of the present embodiment corresponds with that of the first embodiment illustrated-in Figures l and 2 exceptfthat the coupler stem Ib is of normally smaller height or depth on account of the omission of the anges or shoulders I3 and I 4. The yoke I5b, of the vertical, type like the yoke I5, is of normal height, while. `the swivel block 2b, may be of greater height than that of the first embodiment. In. order therefore to permit insertion ofthe swivel block 2b between the upper and lower walls or arms of the yoke, the forward portions I8b and I9b thereof vare offsetraway from each other, that is, upwardly and downwardly respectively in orderY toacoommodate the height of the swivel block. Said offset portions are continued rearwardly to an extent suicient to permit a normal rearward movement of the swivel block 2P upon compression 0f the associated cushioning mechanism 23b'where said walls are slightly inclined or gradually converge to the normal distance therebetween, as illustrated particularly in Figure 6. vThe upper and lower surfaces of the swivel block 2b are preferably Vbeveled as' indicated at 3E) and 3I to correspond with the converging of the walls I 8b and |911. Except as specically described in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with that of the first embodiment, said coupler and yoke being operatively connectedby a draft key 26h, and the side walls of the coupler stem being channeled as indicated at 26b`and 2lb to receive corresponding reinforcements Zlib -and 2,5la on the yoke.

Although I have illustrated and described certainpreferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to an exact showing, as modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of my invention as dened by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim: n

1. A yoke with a hooded frontend, the side walls of which are channeled to individually receive edge portions of coupler shank loops extended to a width greater than that of the adjacent forward portion ofthe shank proper.

2. In a draft rigging, in combination, a yoke formed Y at its forward end with Vside walls, a coupler and pivotally connected swivel block received between the side wallsy of said yoke, said coupler having spaced rearwardly extending, normally horizontal, webs, the side edge portions of which are generally cylindrical, intercalated with forwardly extendingv webs on the swivel block and pivotally connected thereto,'said coupler webs being wider than the adjacent forward portiony of the coupler and the normal distance between the side walls of the yoke, said side walls being correspondingly channeled for individually receiving the adjacent portions of said webs, and permitting the insertion thereof in place, and means connecting said coupler and yoke.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a yoke comprising vertically spaced arms and provided with side walls at its forward end forming a hooded portion, a swivel butt coupler, comprising a coupler stem and an associated swivel block, y

received in said hooded portion, said coupler stem having rearwardly extending, generally horizontal, spaced anges intercalated with corresponding forwardly extending flanges. on said swivel block and pivotally connected thereto, said coupler iianges having generally cylindrical side portions extending outwardly beyond the portion of the stem forwardly thereof and the normal distance between the side walls of said hooded portion, said side walls being correspondingly channeled to provide for individually slidably receiving the side edge portions of said flanges, said coupler stem and the side walls of said yoke being slotted to receive a connecting draft key, the slots in said side walls being extended rearwardly of the normal position of said key to allow for rearward movement of said coupler with respect to said yoke, those portions of said side walls around the slots being provided Vwith inwardly extending reinforcements, tapering to a maxin'iumV adjacent the front edges of said slots, the adjacent side portions of said coupler stem being correspondingly channeled to receive said reinforcements, said channeled portions being forwardly offset with respect to the voke, when the coupler is disposed normally, so that the maximum channelling registers with the maximum reinforcement when the coupler is subjected to buffing forces, pushed rearwardly to the limit, and liable to maximum angling with respect to said yoke.

fi. In a draft rigging, in combination, a yoke, and a coupler with a stem fitting between the arms of said yoke, said stem being connected to the yoke and formed with spaced rearwardly extending, normally horizontal, walls, the side edge portions of said walls being generally cylindrical and the width being greater than the adjacent forward portion of the coupler and the normal distance between the corresponding portions of the yoke, said yoke portions having corresponding channels to individually receive the adjacent edge portions of said spaced walls. Y

5. In a draft rigging, in combination, a vertical yoke formed with side walls at its forward end, a swivel butt coupler received between said walls, said coupler comprising rearwardly extending, normally horizontal, spaced flanges intercalated with corresponding forwardly extending flanges on a swivel block and pin connected thereto, said coupler flanges having generally cylindrical side portions extending laterally beyond the adjacent forward portions of the coupler between the side walls of the yoke, said side walls having corresponding channels individually receiving and providing clearance for said flanges, and means connecting said coupler and yoke for the transmission of draft forces while permitting relative rearward movement of the coupler upon the applicay tion of buffing forces.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a vertical yoke comprising upper and lower arms and side walls connecting the forward portions of said arms, a coupler with a stem fitting, between said side walls and formed with longitudinal channels on opposite sides, an auxiliary portion, a pin pivotally connecting said stem and auxiliary portion, said stem, auxiliary portion and yokeside walls being slotted, and a horizontal key extending through the slots in said coupler stem, auxiliary member, and side walls, the inner faces of said yoke side walls being spaced to clear said auxiliary portion and the forwardportions converging rearwardly to provide reinforcements of maximum strength adjacent the front ends of said slots, said coupler stem having side walls converging rearwardly to the key slot therein and: the channels being tapered in depth to correspend with the yoke reinforcements and provide for nesting of said reinforcements therein, the point of maximum depth of said channels being offset forwardly from the normal position of the front ends of the yoke slots an amount corresponding approximately with the normal rearward movement of the coupler with respect to the yoke on buff, so that upon rearward movement of the coupler with respect to the yoke, as provided by the elongation of the slots, the yoke reinforcements are received in the channels in the coupler stem.

NORMAN B. AKITT. 

